[HN Gopher] Ask HN: How do I stop hating my job?
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       Ask HN: How do I stop hating my job?
        
       I hate my job. It's a combination of the usual complaints from
       people working in businesses with IT as a cost center and the
       company repeatedly ignoring/breaking it's own policies.  I'm
       looking to switch but not finding anything better. I'm also looking
       to change teams internally.  How can I can I stop hating my current
       job/role?
        
       Author : giantg2
       Score  : 12 points
       Date   : 2021-11-16 20:58 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
       | missedthecue wrote:
       | Lower your expectations
        
         | giantg2 wrote:
         | Can you explain this? What is a reasonable expectation?
        
       | downrightmike wrote:
       | Compartmentalize it. It is a method to earn a living. outside of
       | that, free yourself from it. If it is burning you out, slow down
       | what you can and pace yourself. No one does good work stressed
       | out. Then you need to focus on things outside of the job. go for
       | a walk, play a video game. Spend time doing stuff your SO or pets
       | like. Be there for others outside of work. Read a book. but if
       | you have burnout, that needs to be addressed first.
        
         | giantg2 wrote:
         | Thanks. I do try to think of it as just a job. Unfortunately,
         | it doesn't help with the frustration and boredom at work. I
         | have a decent time outside of work.
        
       | stevenalowe wrote:
       | >"I'm the programmer equivalent of a Yugo (car)" <-- your profile
       | 
       | might start with self-esteem... if you think you're not worthy
       | you'll end up in the same place/job/situation again
        
       | PaulHoule wrote:
       | I think it's the opposite of what Tolstoy wrote:
       | 
       | "Every unhappy software developer is unhappy in the same way,
       | every happy software developer is happy in a different way."
       | 
       | That is, it is a lot of work to find a situation you are happy in
       | or (conversely) figure out how to be happy in the situation you
       | are in.
       | 
       | Take a look at this classic book
       | 
       | https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3650010-have-fun-at-work
        
         | giantg2 wrote:
         | Thanks, I'll take a look at that book.
        
       | theGeatZhopa wrote:
       | Me is the same in feeling towards my current position. I really
       | like the combination, that I won't find like that outside. For
       | sure.
       | 
       | My problem is that none of my colleagues can do anything and I
       | can do everything. With my qualification it would be easy to find
       | outside. And that's year for year with changing colleagues - and
       | I don't get a raise, not in these crazy times right now. Nor
       | before. Stupit.
       | 
       | But, I have some benefits, like stand up in the morning and write
       | a Whatsapp message if everyone is ok with me taking day off, or,
       | the hierarchy is very flat with every one working on their own .
       | 
       | So I try to see the good side of the job. Don't you have good
       | times, too? Some days are really productive, some sucks. In the
       | end of the day, I think about what have I done and what needs to
       | be done "tomorrow.." (procrastinated). On the next day, I'm happy
       | with finishing all that, and, again..what need to be done
       | tomorrow..
       | 
       | So it's stress. But a "good" one. Do you sometimes have that
       | moment of feeling good after some difficult situation, too?
       | 
       | I think the weights are towards the negative with you. Not the
       | usual hokus pokus esotericus - but, buy that Lapislazuli and put
       | it 3 times a day near your stomach!
       | 
       | No, joke. Try to see the positive aspects in what you do. Don't
       | care about the others. You have to assume that the others are
       | lazy and stupid, but also you do have to realize that in the eyes
       | of other's you're lazy and stupid, too. By that it's easier to
       | understand the fault's, errors, decisions - after all it's human.
       | Some are really crazy.. and a friend of mine once told me he
       | thinks I'm strange. I don't see that in my self observations :)
       | 
       | That will the beginning..
       | 
       | don't be toxic. See no toxic. Don't become toxic. (Chuck Norris)
        
       | kleer001 wrote:
       | Take on more responsibility.
        
         | giantg2 wrote:
         | Can you explain this?
         | 
         | I've filled the role of tech lead and senior dev on past teams,
         | but without a raise or promotion. I'm also the security
         | champion for my team. On my prior team I was the security
         | champion for an application spanning 6+ teams over 2
         | departments. I'm still a midlevel dev. I dont see why I should
         | continue to work above my level with no reward.
         | 
         | Also, I can't put in a ton of extra hours do to home life
         | constraints.
        
           | gt565k wrote:
           | Ask for a raise and bring up these points.
           | 
           | You're doing a lot more work, but never got paid for it.
           | Doesn't hurt to ask, or go get an offer from another company
           | and use it as leverage if you want to stay at your current
           | company.
        
             | giantg2 wrote:
             | Yeah, I tried asking for a raise I'm the past. They
             | wouldn't do it. Now my performance is slipping, so they
             | certainly won't give me one.
        
       | okareaman wrote:
       | "Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem,
       | first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by
       | assholes." -- Notorious d.e.b
       | 
       | The key for me in that situation is to identify what it is that I
       | am most unhappy about. Is it a particular individual who makes
       | your life hell? Is it that they enforce their own policies
       | unfairly? Or do you feel like you are wasting your life at tasks
       | you do not enjoy?
       | 
       | The answers will inform your decision about a course of action.
        
         | giantg2 wrote:
         | "Is it that they enforce their own policies unfairly? Or do you
         | feel like you are wasting your life at tasks you do not enjoy?"
         | 
         | Thanks! It's definitely these two. They don't just enforce the
         | policies unfairly, they actually do the complete opposite of
         | the policies. I'm tired of being on a treadmill going nowhere.
        
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       (page generated 2021-11-16 23:02 UTC)